13 November 2019 12:10 am
Dimuth Karunaratne is set to be recalled as Test Captain
By Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chief Selector, Ashantha de Mel is scheduled to announce the 16-member Test Squad for next month’s Pakistan tour on Thursday (14).
This time, the Interim Coach Rumesh Ratnayake is likely to be invited for the Selection Meeting.
“My two colleagues, Chaminda Mendis and Vinothan John are unlikely to be present for the selection meeting.”
“Vinothan is already in Bangladesh with the Sri Lanka Under-19 Team and Mendis will be with the Sri Lanka Emerging Team in Bangladesh,” de Mel said yesterday.
“However, I have already discussed about the composition of the team with my fellow selectors. I will now carry forward the discussions with the captain and coach,” de Mel added.
Dimuth Karunaratne who opted to be out of the last Pakistan tour (ODI series) is set to be recalled as Test Captain.
In fact, Interim Coach Ratnayake returned from Australia yesterday after a disastrous tour where they lost the Twenty20 International Series to the home side 0-3.
Meanwhile, Consultant Coach Jerome Jayaratne who returned from Australia on Monday is unlikely to join the team in Pakistan. De Mel is also tipped to be the Manager and the Tour Selector in Pakistan.
The Sri Lanka Test Squad would begin their training from November 18 according to reliable sources. The two Test matches are scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi respectively.
The Sri Lanka Test Team will leave for Pakistan on December 8.
My two colleagues, Chaminda Mendis and Vinothan John are unlikely to be present for the selection meeting